Abstract:
Cardiac biomarkers such as troponins and natriuretic peptides have become important in the diagnostic treatment of acute coronary syndrome and heart failure. With the appearance of high sensitive troponins, after intense physical activity in some athletes, values exceeding the threshold for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction were detected. Despite such high
troponin values, they did not complain on chest pain neither had ECG changes suggestive of an acute myocardial infarction. In athletes with high troponin values, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the heart found no signs of myocardial necrosis. Also, the kinetics of troponin increase did not correspond to that in acute myocardial infarction. So, it is supposed
that such increase in troponin is due to the increased mechanical load on the myocardium. There is no association between transient cardiac dysfunction after intense physical activity and an increase in cardiac biomarkers. Accelerated coronary artery atherosclerosis, a higher risk of atrial fibrillation and myocardial fibrosis have been observed in middle-aged and elderly people
who have been or are engaged in intense physical activity. Despite these findings, there is no clear evidence that intense physical activity is harmful to health.Cite